GeForce GTX 550 Ti vs Quadro K3100M

Place in the ranking	595	697
Place by popularity	not in top-100	65
Cost-effectiveness evaluation	0.27	0.78
Power efficiency	5.42	2.40
Architecture	Kepler (2012−2018)	Fermi 2.0 (2010−2014)
GPU code name	GK104	GF116
Market segment	Mobile workstation	Desktop
Release date	23 July 2013 (11 years ago)	15 March 2011 (13 years ago)
Launch price (MSRP)	$1,999	$149

Cost-effectiveness evaluation

Performance to price ratio. The higher, the better.

GTX 550 Ti has 189% better value for money than K3100M.

Detailed specifications

General parameters such as number of shaders, GPU core base clock and boost clock speeds, manufacturing process, texturing and calculation speed. Note that power consumption of some graphics cards can well exceed their nominal TDP, especially when overclocked.

Pipelines / CUDA cores	768	192
Core clock speed	706 MHz	900 MHz
Number of transistors	3,540 million	1,170 million
Manufacturing process technology	28 nm	40 nm
Power consumption (TDP)	75 Watt	116 Watt
Maximum GPU temperature	no data	100 °C
Texture fill rate	45.18	28.80
Floating-point processing power	1.084 TFLOPS	0.6912 TFLOPS
ROPs	32	24
TMUs	64	32

Form factor & compatibility

Information on compatibility with other computer components. Useful when choosing a future computer configuration or upgrading an existing one. For desktop graphics cards it's interface and bus (motherboard compatibility), additional power connectors (power supply compatibility).

Laptop size	large	no data
Bus support	no data	16x PCI-E 2.0
Interface	MXM-B (3.0)	PCIe 2.0 x16
Length	no data	210 mm
Height	no data	4.376" (11.1 cm)
Width	no data	2-slot
Supplementary power connectors	no data	1x 6-pin
SLI options	-	+

VRAM capacity and type

Parameters of VRAM installed: its type, size, bus, clock and resulting bandwidth. Integrated GPUs have no dedicated video RAM and use a shared part of system RAM.

Memory type	GDDR5	GDDR5
Maximum RAM amount	4 GB	2 GB
Memory bus width	256 Bit	192 Bit
Memory clock speed	800 MHz	4.1 GB/s
Memory bandwidth	102.4 GB/s	98.4 GB/s
Shared memory	-	-

Connectivity and outputs

Types and number of video connectors present on the reviewed GPUs. As a rule, data in this section is precise only for desktop reference ones (so-called Founders Edition for NVIDIA chips). OEM manufacturers may change the number and type of output ports, while for notebook cards availability of certain video outputs ports depends on the laptop model rather than on the card itself.

Display Connectors	No outputs	Two Dual Link DVI-IMini HDMI
Multi monitor support	no data	+
HDMI	-	+
Maximum VGA resolution	no data	2048x1536
Display Port	1.2	no data
Audio input for HDMI	no data	Internal

Supported technologies

Supported technological solutions. This information will prove useful if you need some particular technology for your purposes.

Optimus	+	-
3D Vision Pro	+	no data
Mosaic	+	no data
nView Display Management	+	no data
Optimus	+	no data

API compatibility

List of supported 3D and general-purpose computing APIs, including their specific versions.

DirectX	12	12 (11_0)
Shader Model	5.1	5.1
OpenGL	4.5	4.2
OpenCL	1.2	1.1
Vulkan	+	N/A
CUDA	+	+

Synthetic benchmark performance

Non-gaming benchmark results comparison. The combined score is measured on a 0-100 point scale.

Combined synthetic benchmark score

This is our combined benchmark score. We are regularly improving our combining algorithms, but if you find some perceived inconsistencies, feel free to speak up in comments section, we usually fix problems quickly.

K3100M 5.90
+46%

GTX 550 Ti 4.04

Passmark

This is the most ubiquitous GPU benchmark. It gives the graphics card a thorough evaluation under various types of load, providing four separate benchmarks for Direct3D versions 9, 10, 11 and 12 (the last being done in 4K resolution if possible), and few more tests engaging DirectCompute capabilities.

K3100M 2267
+45.9%

GTX 550 Ti 1554

3DMark 11 Performance GPU

3DMark 11 is an obsolete DirectX 11 benchmark by Futuremark. It used four tests based on two scenes, one being few submarines exploring the submerged wreck of a sunken ship, the other is an abandoned temple deep in the jungle. All the tests are heavy with volumetric lighting and tessellation, and despite being done in 1280x720 resolution, are relatively taxing. Discontinued in January 2020, 3DMark 11 is now superseded by Time Spy.

K3100M 3581
+57.6%

GTX 550 Ti 2272

3DMark Vantage Performance

3DMark Vantage is an outdated DirectX 10 benchmark using 1280x1024 screen resolution. It taxes the graphics card with two scenes, one depicting a girl escaping some militarized base located within a sea cave, the other displaying a space fleet attack on a defenseless planet. It was discontinued in April 2017, and Time Spy benchmark is now recommended to be used instead.

K3100M 15120
+47.8%

GTX 550 Ti 10229

GeekBench 5 OpenCL

Geekbench 5 is a widespread graphics card benchmark combined from 11 different test scenarios. All these scenarios rely on direct usage of GPU's processing power, no 3D rendering is involved. This variation uses OpenCL API by Khronos Group.

K3100M 6069
+5%

GTX 550 Ti 5782

Octane Render OctaneBench

This is a special benchmark measuring graphics card performance in OctaneRender, which is a realistic GPU rendering engine by OTOY Inc., available either as a standalone program, or as a plugin for 3DS Max, Cinema 4D and many other apps. It renders four different static scenes, then compares render times with a reference GPU which is currently GeForce GTX 980. This benchmark has nothing to do with gaming and is aimed at professional 3D graphics artists.

K3100M 19

GTX 550 Ti 20
+5.3%

Gaming performance

Let's see how good the compared graphics cards are for gaming. Particular gaming benchmark results are measured in FPS.

Average FPS across all PC games

Here are the average frames per second in a large set of popular games across different resolutions:

900p	55−60 +44.7%	38 −44.7%
Full HD	33 −9.1%	36 +9.1%
4K	16 +60%	10−12 −60%

Cost per frame, $

1080p	60.58 −1364%	4.14 +1364%
4K	124.94 −739%	14.90 +739%

GTX 550 Ti has 1364% lower cost per frame in 1080p
GTX 550 Ti has 739% lower cost per frame in 4K

FPS performance in popular games

Full HD
Low Preset

Counter-Strike 2	12−14 +18.2%	10−12 −18.2%
Cyberpunk 2077	12−14 +50%	8−9 −50%
Elden Ring	14−16 +66.7%	9−10 −66.7%

Full HD
Medium Preset

Battlefield 5	18−20 +63.6%	10−12 −63.6%
Counter-Strike 2	12−14 +18.2%	10−12 −18.2%
Cyberpunk 2077	12−14 +50%	8−9 −50%
Forza Horizon 4	24−27 +33.3%	18−20 −33.3%
Metro Exodus	14−16 +66.7%	9−10 −66.7%
Red Dead Redemption 2	16−18 +30.8%	12−14 −30.8%
Valorant	16−18 +143%	7−8 −143%

Full HD
High Preset

Battlefield 5	18−20 +63.6%	10−12 −63.6%
Counter-Strike 2	12−14 +18.2%	10−12 −18.2%
Cyberpunk 2077	12−14 +50%	8−9 −50%
Dota 2	20−22 +66.7%	12−14 −66.7%
Elden Ring	14−16 +66.7%	9−10 −66.7%
Far Cry 5	27−30 +33.3%	21−24 −33.3%
Fortnite	35−40 +52.2%	21−24 −52.2%
Forza Horizon 4	24−27 +33.3%	18−20 −33.3%
Grand Theft Auto V	20−22 +66.7%	12−14 −66.7%
Metro Exodus	14−16 +66.7%	9−10 −66.7%
PLAYERUNKNOWN'S BATTLEGROUNDS	45−50 +40%	35−40 −40%
Red Dead Redemption 2	16−18 +30.8%	12−14 −30.8%
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt	18 +28.6%	14−16 −28.6%
Valorant	16−18 +143%	7−8 −143%
World of Tanks	90−95 +38.2%	65−70 −38.2%

Full HD
Ultra Preset

Battlefield 5	18−20 +63.6%	10−12 −63.6%
Counter-Strike 2	12−14 +18.2%	10−12 −18.2%
Cyberpunk 2077	12−14 +50%	8−9 −50%
Dota 2	20−22 +66.7%	12−14 −66.7%
Far Cry 5	27−30 +33.3%	21−24 −33.3%
Forza Horizon 4	24−27 +33.3%	18−20 −33.3%
PLAYERUNKNOWN'S BATTLEGROUNDS	45−50 +40%	35−40 −40%
Valorant	16−18 +143%	7−8 −143%

1440p
High Preset

Dota 2	5−6 +150%	2−3 −150%
Elden Ring	7−8 +75%	4−5 −75%
Grand Theft Auto V	6−7 +100%	3−4 −100%
PLAYERUNKNOWN'S BATTLEGROUNDS	35−40 +28.6%	27−30 −28.6%
Red Dead Redemption 2	5−6 +66.7%	3−4 −66.7%
World of Tanks	40−45 +48.3%	27−30 −48.3%

1440p
Ultra Preset

Battlefield 5	10−11 +100%	5−6 −100%
Counter-Strike 2	9−10 +0%	9−10 +0%
Cyberpunk 2077	5−6 +25%	4−5 −25%
Far Cry 5	12−14 +33.3%	9−10 −33.3%
Forza Horizon 4	10−11 +150%	4−5 −150%
Metro Exodus	7−8 +600%	1−2 −600%
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt	7−8 +40%	5−6 −40%
Valorant	16−18 +33.3%	12−14 −33.3%

4K
High Preset

Dota 2	16−18 +6.3%	16−18 −6.3%
Elden Ring	3−4 +50%	2−3 −50%
Grand Theft Auto V	16−18 +6.3%	16−18 −6.3%
Metro Exodus	1−2	0−1
PLAYERUNKNOWN'S BATTLEGROUNDS	16−18 +54.5%	10−12 −54.5%
Red Dead Redemption 2	4−5 +100%	2−3 −100%
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt	16−18 +6.3%	16−18 −6.3%

4K
Ultra Preset

Battlefield 5	5−6 +66.7%	3−4 −66.7%
Cyberpunk 2077	2−3 +100%	1−2 −100%
Dota 2	16−18 +6.3%	16−18 −6.3%
Far Cry 5	7−8 +75%	4−5 −75%
Fortnite	5−6 +66.7%	3−4 −66.7%
Forza Horizon 4	5−6 +150%	2−3 −150%
Valorant	5−6 +25%	4−5 −25%

This is how K3100M and GTX 550 Ti compete in popular games:

K3100M is 45% faster in 900p
GTX 550 Ti is 9% faster in 1080p
K3100M is 60% faster in 4K

Here's the range of performance differences observed across popular games:

in Metro Exodus, with 1440p resolution and the Ultra Preset, the K3100M is 600% faster.

All in all, in popular games:

K3100M is ahead in 59 tests (98%)
there's a draw in 1 test (2%)

Pros & cons summary

Performance score	5.90	4.04
Recency	23 July 2013	15 March 2011
Maximum RAM amount	4 GB	2 GB
Chip lithography	28 nm	40 nm
Power consumption (TDP)	75 Watt	116 Watt

K3100M has a 46% higher aggregate performance score, an age advantage of 2 years, a 100% higher maximum VRAM amount, a 42.9% more advanced lithography process, and 54.7% lower power consumption.

The Quadro K3100M is our recommended choice as it beats the GeForce GTX 550 Ti in performance tests.

Be aware that Quadro K3100M is a mobile workstation card while GeForce GTX 550 Ti is a desktop one.

Should you still have questions concerning choice between the reviewed GPUs, ask them in Comments section, and we shall answer.